Video: Lucas Silver's highlights vs. Del Norte High
See the La Cueva High player in action earlier this season."Time will tell."
On several occasions during a one-hour telephone interview, Austin Denton made that statement when asked about things that might happen in his immediate and distant future.
After all, the 14-year-old freshman at
La Cueva (Albuquerque, N.M.) is just launching a media career that could some day enable him to land sports jobs in newspapers, radio or television. He is wise beyond his years and is taking one step at a time.
That first step was taken this fall when he accepted a paid position as a spotter and statistician for ESPN Radio KQTM 101.7 FM The TEAM. The station is based in the Albuquerque suburb of Rio Rancho, but covers the entire metro area. Radio President Joe O'Neill offered him the job on the recommendation of his brother, Brian O'Neill, who had observed the youngster keeping statistics for his school teams.
Before he even accepted, however, Denton showed his love and loyalty to the La Cueva Bears. Because he was a football manager, he had to ask coach Brandon Back if it was OK with him. Once given the go-ahead, he noted, "It was a good opportunity, how this could help me with what I wanted to do in the future. This job was the perfect opportunity."
So, he came to his first football broadcast this fall armed with his calculator, binoculars and a bundle of statistical sheets. His original job was to keep every offensive play for each team and quickly pass the information to color analyst David Williams and play-by-play announcer Scott Galetti.
Austin Denton interviews Cleveland High coach Heath Ridenour after a game.
Photo courtesy of Andres Trujillo
Was he nervous? No way, because as he put it, "I've never been a nervous type of person. That's always been a subject that I kind of laugh about. Everybody else gets nervous, but me. That's something I cherish."
Prior to the third broadcast, though, he was thrust into an even more important role - he was suddenly tasked with doing the post-game interview with the winning coach. Apparently he is "human" after all, because he related, "I will admit on that first interview I did have nerves. I keep it short and sweet. I asked only two questions. It's easier now that I know what I'm doing."
At this point it should be noted that Denton - who is approximately 4 feet tall and weighs 60 pounds - works from a wheelchair, the result of a tumor that appeared on his spinal cord at age 2, forcing chemotherapy, radiation, surgeries and periodic checkups that followed until he was 8.
The radiation stunted his growth. He has been in cancer remission for the last six years, with at least one surgery yet to come due to scoliosis.
He has been through a lot. But he can't remember his worst day.
"I can't think of one. Getting diagnosed (with cancer), but I was a young kid and didn't really understand. (Best day) was getting done with all the treatment, surgery and radiation (at age 8)."
Does he ever complain?
"I try not to," he replied. "I don't let things get me down. I try to figure out how to make things better. Most days I have a positive attitude."
Because Denton operates from a wheelchair (he does at times use forearm crutches), David Williams admitted, "I was reluctant. The reason becomes very personal because I have an 8-year-old grandson who has epilepsy. What a hypocrite I am in hindsight. I'm really glad I had an opportunity to consider the whole thing,
"Austin is so personable, upbeat and enthusiastic. He absolutely is enamored with his high school. He oozes La Cueva. He knows every kid and every stat. Now that I know him, I'm really impressed with his intensity and commitment. He does our post-game interviews and is so well accepted. He pays attention, learns (during the game) and is very concise. A lot of people know who he is and the challenges (he faces). He's a 14-year-old kid who sees everything half-full."
Scott Galetti added, "The more he's learning, the more valuable he's gotten. I've known him for seven years and he's very bright. He's done a bang-up job. He's had a passion for a long time. I was ecstatic (when asked if Austin could join the broadcast team). He pays attention and is willing to learn. He's a sponge. He's a hit with the coaches. One of the things we hear coaches say: 'Wow, you really did your homework.'"
Galetti and Williams both agree that Denton will have to learn to be more impartial due to his great love for his high school team and that will have to come if he gets more on-air responsibilities.
Austin answers with the comment: "I don't know. Time will tell."
He probably developed his love of sports from his parents, Brian and Tracy Denton. Both were gymnasts and cheerleaders at the University of New Mexico, where they later coached the cheerleaders from 1996 until 2013. Austin was raised around sporting events.
Tracy recalled, "He always just loved collecting information. He can tell you where the pros played in college. He likes being at games and being in the action and he's real good at technology. He always has been outgoing. He's never shy. He's very good at public speaking and even when he was younger he could call the games watching on TV."
Austin believes he really got the "bug" at age 4 when he began "broadcasting" his video games. He calls sports and technology "just a natural thing for me. Ever since I was a little kid I always was interested in cell phones and how computers worked."
Over the years he has done the following things leading up to his current radio gig: announced state gymnastics competition, announced middle school girls basketball games for three years (while also serving as boys basketball manager), helped emcee the Walk/Run for St. Jude Hospital (where he spent many weeks in Memphis undergoing treatments and checkups) and he spoke at a Coaches for Cancer fundraiser, telling his own story.
The La Cueva freshman is a multitasker if there ever was one. Besides his radio duties, he also is a freshman football manager. Among his duties are handling the team's Twitter account and helping coaches break down game film. And he still manages to get "A" grades in the classroom.
He admits, "Sometimes I get tired. But I tell myself, 'OK, it's too much. I have to slow down a bit.'"
Denton proved his football loyalty last summer by getting up at 5:15 a.m. and making nearly every summer practice.
La Cueva football coach Brandon Back embraces his young manager's love for the Bears.
Back calls him "a great little motivator. He's got as much passion as anybody and wants our team to succeed. He embraces technology and is very good at that. The kid knows how to work. He helped with weightlifting and agility stations. A lot of kids see him as more than a manager - like a hybrid kid - but he takes on a lot of responsibility. They don't respect him (only) because of his disability. How can you feel sorry for a kid who's at practice at 6 a.m. every day?
"I've worked in special education for the last 17 years. There are a lot of people with less disability who expect more out of people than he does. He and his parents expect him to accomplish things on his own ability and sweat. The thing I enjoy the most is the example he leads for everybody else. He's a great role model because there are no excuses. What can the rest of us say?"
Denton, who is almost like an assistant coach, tells the players "Just treat me like one of your friends. Some call me sir. (The coaches) just make sure that I get as much respect as they do. That's something I really respect."
As far as being a role model, Denton insisted modestly, "I don't really consider myself a role model. (Maybe) one of these days, once I get my story out there - you can go out there and do this, too."
Back recalled a few favorite moments with Denton during summer workouts. On the second day, he briefly put the youngster in charge of one of the nine rotating stations. Upon his return, the pleasantly-surprised coach reported, "He was doing more screaming and yelling than I would and keeping them on pace."
Back's admiration also rose when he saw Denton manning the five-player blocking sled and "was making the boys sweat."
On another occasion, a 12-pound medicine ball bounced off a wall and hit Denton in the head. "It kind of shocked him, but he moved to a better spot and back to work," the coach recalled.
Adding to his many talents, Denton also is an athlete, having played wheelchair basketball for six years. He is affectionately called the "assist man." Basketball had been his favorite sport, but he really is getting into football now.
Austin Denton supports his colleagues in the press box, "The Coach" David Williams (color) and Scott Galetti (play by play).
Photo courtesy of Andres Trujillo
Basketball was natural, because he not only has played the game since he was 8, but also for the encounters he has had with professional basketball players. For example, the doctors at St. Jude Hospital in Memphis once arranged for Rudy Gay to call him on his birthday.
"I was in first grade then," he noted. "It's a big deal now (that he's older) to me."
On another occasion, the Denton family was standing in a ticket line at a Memphis Grizzlies game and met Amar'e Stoudemire's personal assistant, who invited them to sit with him at the game. Afterwards, Austin met Stoudemire and received an autographed picture. Still later he received in the mail an autographed jersey of the Phoenix Suns star and a personal letter from Suns coach Steve Kerr.
Denton revealed that two of his bedroom walls are filled with special souvenirs, but would not rank one over another. He calls them "all the most treasured." He will admit that the Memphis Grizzlies and Denver Broncos are his favorite teams - behind, of course, the La Cueva Bears.
Denton is the first to stress that he never could have achieved such success at his age without great support from his parents. He pointed out, "They've been helping me out a lot and been supporting me since I was a little kid (after) they figured out I had a love and talent."
That talent could carry him far in the future, according to Joe O'Neill, who said "He's got all the tools to be incredibly successful in the field. He's got passion for sports and people and he is very good. He's a fascinating kid, just to be around."
Meanwhile, Denton said wisely, "Time will tell."
As his world of wonder continues to unfold, he exclaims, "I thought being in the stands was the best seat in the house. Nope. It's the press box and the field!"
